Board of directors
Jimi Cook
Co-Founder, Board Chairman
Columbia, MO
Co-Founder, Board Chairman
Columbia, MO
Jimi and Cristi Cook founded Be The Change Volunteers in 2007 during a supposed “one time” school building project in Rwanda (BTCV 001). The organization has grown beyond their wildest dreams, and more importantly, has held true to its mission of empowering communities through sustainable education-focused development aid. Jimi’s BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) for BTCV is to complete at least 100 projects during his lifetime. In his “day job”, Jimi serves as the Allen Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics and Mizzou BioJoint Center at the University of Missouri.
Cristi Cook
Co-Founder and Secretary/Treasurer
Columbia, MO
Co-Founder and Secretary/Treasurer
Columbia, MO
Cristi is the Co-founder of Be the Change Volunteers. She and her husband Jimi have served and led teams on education focused development aid projects all over the world. Cristi volunteers countless hours each year recording and depositing donations for BTCV among many other tasks that keep the organizations lights on every day. In her “day job,” Cristi serves as an assistant professor for the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics and Mizzou BioJoint Center at the University of Missouri and "freelance" veterinary radiologist.
Brian Van Vechten
Board Member
Castle Pines, Co
Board Member
Castle Pines, Co
Brian has managed and owned veterinary practices in both the San Diego and the Denver areas. He currently serves as surgeon and medical director of surgery at the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado in Englewood. Since 2009 he has been on the board of directors or the advisory committee of Be The Change Volunteers. He and his family have served on projects in South America, Peru and Rwanda. Brian has been married to his wife Liz for 24 years. Together, they had 3 children; Alex (Alexandria), Jake (deceased), and Nick. In his free time he enjoys spending time with family, improving youth education opportunities, golf, skiing, hiking, and travel.
Linda Karl
Board Member
Columbia, MO
Board Member
Columbia, MO
Linda is a Compliance Manager for a safety insurance company. She has served BTCV for many years as a project volunteer, team leader, chapter leader and advisory council member. She has served with BTCV in India, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Kansas City (USA) and Puerto Rico (USA). Her area of expertise is workplace safety which is truly needed in developing world construction. She and her husband Tom have 4 daughters and 8 grandchildren. She enjoys volunteering at her church, knitting, reading, golfing and hanging out with family and friends. She is most passionate about hand delivering hope to children through the gift of education!
Chris Adejo
Board Member
Columbia, MO
Board Member
Columbia, MO
Chris was born and raised in Nigeria where he served as one of the countries top legal officials as the Resident State Counsel which is the equivalent of the US Assistant Attorney General. In that position he argued cases before the Nigerian Supreme court. Today he lives in Columbia, Missouri and works for the University of Missouri at the Missouri Orthopedic Institute. Chris has a deep understanding of the difficulties that education providers face in underdeveloped countries. His perspective is so valuable in guiding our decisions and being diligent with donor funds. In his free time Chris spends time with his wife and children, serves at his church, and enjoys photography. Chris is passionate about the way that an education and hard work can change the world.
Ted Kettlewell
Board Member
Columbia, Mo
Board Member
Columbia, Mo
Ted is the co-founder of OCCI Inc a national engineering construction contractor specializing in railroad, highway bridges and Corp of Engineers lock and dam rehabs. The company motto is “the difficult we do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer.” Which we all feel is a good fit for the BTCV mission and team efforts. Ted has served on multiple trips to Uganda and is highly involved in the BTCV partnership there. Ted shares his vast construction expertise by consulting on construction projects and budgets delivered to BTCV by partners. He is a Missouri native and has been married to his college sweetheart Susanna for 41 years. They have two daughters Jenny and Mary. Ted is honored to serve the BTCV mission and change the world one kid at a time.
Marc Scott
Board Member
Kansas City, MO
Board Member
Kansas City, MO
Marc is a banker in Kansas City, MO. He participated in his first build with his wife, Sadie, on Peru phase 1 in 2014. Since then, Marc has participated on projects in India, Malawi, Rwanda, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Kansas City (USA) and Puerto Rico (USA). Marc is a past member of the Advisory Council and an active member of the Finance Committee. He loves traveling, the outdoors and his English bulldogs.
Executive Team
Grant Venable
Director of Change
Phoenix, AZ
Director of Change
Phoenix, AZ
Grant is the Director of Change at Be The Change Volunteers, “DOC”. He has led teams and served on projects in North America, Asia, Africa, South America and the Pacific Islands. He runs the day to day operations for BTCV and coordinates all projects. He is experienced in the business sector, light construction, international project management, and emergency medical rescue. Grant currently lives in Arizona with his wife and two daughters. The family loves warm weather, hiking, biking and all things outdoors!
Debbie Waggoner
Executive Coordinator of Change
Columbia, MO
Executive Coordinator of Change
Columbia, MO
Debbie retired from State Farm Insurance in September, 2016 after working there for over 40 years. She now serves as Executive Coordinator of Change and Chief Compassion Officer for BTCV. Working daily with the co-founders and director, Debbie ensures that every volunteer is taken care of. She follows her passion of going on builds to help change lives and build relationships with Changers and the people of the communities where BTCV has projects. Debbie has been on builds in India, Malawi, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Puerto Rico.
Thato Mabena
Director of Field Operations, Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
Director of Field Operations, Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
Thato is a graduate of Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, South Africa. He is a professional freelance photographer and also serves as BTCV's Director of Field Operations for Africa. He is an optimistic individual who always has a positive outlook on life with an eagerness to learn.
He has volunteered on projects in Malawi, Tanzania and Puerto Rico. In addition he has served on special field assignments for BTCV in Africa. In his free time he enjoys reading, jogging, traveling and helping others.
Advisory Council
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Greg Jones - Legal
Vice President Central Trust Company Columbia, MO Ted Kettlewell - Engineering Vice President OCCI, Inc Columbia, MO Dusty Hoffman - Security Captain Missouri State Highway Patrol Columbia, MO Adam Dube - Education Administration Head of School Randolph School Huntsville, AL Norm Chong - Business Global Business Development Manager Agilent Technologies Austin, TX Scott Daugherty - Construction Owner Fairway Meadows Corporation Columbia, MO Antonio Pozzi - International/Europe Professor of Veterinary Surgery University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland Chris Adejo - International/Africa Office Support Asst./Patient Coordinator, Limb Preservation Center, Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, Columbia, MO Stefano Pozzi - International/Europe Business Advisor Retired Genoa, Italy Joe Reardon - Endowment Strategy Financial Adviser, CFP Stifel Columbia, MO Diane Lewis - Business Veterinary Dermatologist Institute of Veterinary Specialists Gainesville, FL Peter Stiepleman Superintendent - Retired Columbia Public Schools Columbia, MO Elizabeth Kieru Early Childhood Education African Culture Columbia, Mo |
Julie Estes
Past Board Member Central Christian School St. Louis, Mo Pam Plouhar Past Board Member Johnson & Johnson South Bend, In Erin Burri - Business Past Board Member Real Estate ReMax Columbia, Mo Shari Hamilton - Business Past Board Member Veterinarian IDEXX Columbia, MO Glenn Willett - Business Past Board Member Retired IBM Columbus, OH Doug Willett - Business Past Board Member Executive Vice President Commercial Development Company, Inc Chicago, IL John Heidrich - Business Past Board Member Veterinarian Ventena Animal Clinic Albuquerque, NM |
